All About Bedbugs

Good night, sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.

The popular children’s rhyme gets it right: Bedbugs do most commonly feed on humans at night while they’re sleeping (though they can sometimes bite during the day), and they’re the type of pest you really don’t want to have to deal with. (1)

Bedbugs (or Cimex lectularius and Cimex hemipterus, their scientific names) are blood-feeding parasites that can be found all around the world. You mostly hear about them in urban areas or places with a great deal of occupant turnover, such as hotels, apartment buildings, and college dormitories, because that’s where they spread most easily. (1)

Bedbugs were nearly extinct after World War II thanks to the use of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT). The United States banned DDT in 1972 because of its negative environmental effects, and the less-effective pesticides that came after it, along with a rise in international travel and immigration, has contributed to the bedbug resurgence we’re experiencing today. (3)

What Do Bedbugs Look Like, and How Do I Know I Have Them?

Bedbugs are reddish-brown insects that feed on blood, primarily blood from humans. (4) Bedbugs crawl, but cannot fly or jump like many other insects do. (1) Also unlike cockroaches and flies, bedbugs have no relationship with cleanliness and can be found in the cleanest homes and hotel rooms, says Scott Svenheim, an associate certified entomologist with Truly Nolen Pest Control in Tucson, Arizona.

“Many people believe that bedbugs are too small to see with the naked eye,” adds Jerry Lazarus, president of Braman Termite & Pest Elimination. Not so: Adult bedbugs range in size from 1 to 7 millimeters. But they’re very good at hiding. To spot them, you’ll have to catch them moving to or from their hiding spots, which can be hard to do, since they’re most active while people are sleeping. They have six legs and their bodies are small and flat, which makes it easy for them to hide within the cracks and crevices of your home.

Female bedbugs produce about one egg per day. The eggs are white and are very hard to see without magnification, Lazarus says. The eggs take about one week to hatch in rooms that are between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (F). The nymphs that hatch from those eggs look like adult bedbugs, but they’re smaller and are translucent until they have their first blood meal, Svenheim says. (1) The nymphs take about five weeks to mature, and during those five weeks they shed their skin five times, each time after feeding. (5)

Learn More About How to Know You Have Bedbugs

Bedbug Bites Can Be Intensely Itchy — or You May Not Even Notice Them

Bedbugs are sneaky insects. They bite in the middle of the night (usually about one hour before dawn), injecting an anesthetic and an anticoagulant that makes it painless and unlikely that you’ll feel a thing. After feeding for about five minutes, the bugs will retreat back to their hiding places.

For most people, the first sign of bedbugs is bites on the body. The bites will show up in any place that’s exposed while you sleep, such as the arms, legs, back, and neck.

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You could have a single bite, but more often it’s three bites in a row, forming somewhat of a line—what’s colloquially called “breakfast, lunch, and dinner” and is a telltale sign of bedbugs.

Bites can look different from person to person. “In some people, they can cause allergic reactions, although some people don’t react at all,” Lazarus says. In most cases, a bedbug bite looks a lot like a mosquito bite — a red, itchy bump on your skin that appears within 24 hours of your being bitten.

Though the idea of having bedbugs in your home can be troubling, the bugs themselves don’t pose a threat to your health (nor do their bites). (1) “These bites can’t spread disease to humans, but they can be itchy and uncomfortable,” says Steve Durham, president of EnviroCon Termite & Pest in Tomball, Texas.

You likely won’t need to visit a doctor as a result of getting bitten by a bedbug. (6) Usually, the bites will heal within two weeks on their own, though you may want to apply an anti-itch cream or corticosteroid cream to the area to relieve itchiness. (7)

If you experience an allergic reaction or the area shows signs of infection, such as if the area oozes pus, it may be time to visit a dermatologist. He or she will likely prescribe an antihistamine and corticosteroid to treat an allergic reaction, or an antiseptic or antibiotic ointment for an infection.

Learn More About Identifying and Treating Bedbug Bites

Bedbugs Are Notoriously Tough to Get Rid Of (But You CAN Do It)

“One of the main reasons people fear bedbug infestations more than most other pests is because they are notoriously tough to get rid of,” Durham says. That’s why many people turn to professionals for help. “Most do-it-yourself attempts end in failure and frustration, since over-the-counter products can be misapplied and infested areas can be easily missed,” Lazarus says. “Often, this means spending a lot of your own money and time and still having a problem.” (Plus, failure to correctly use DIY extermination products can be dangerous to your health and those you live with.)

If you decide to go the professional route, there are three common treatment options the pest control expert may take:

1. Insecticide Application Use of insecticides is the most common route to get rid of bedbugs. Treating bedbugs this way requires preparation, such as washing bedding and clothing and placing items that can’t be washed in garbage bags out in the hot sun. Sometimes, a few rounds of insecticides are needed to get rid of the bedbug population entirely.
2. Heat Remediation A pest control professional will heat the infected space to temperatures that kill bedbugs, usually between 120 and 130 degrees F. This method requires much less prep work than insecticide application and usually will successfully eliminate the bedbugs and the eggs on the first treatment, so there’s likely no need for a follow-up visit.
3. Fumigation This option is less commonly available. It works by injecting a vacated building with a gas that kills the bedbugs inside.

You can also try to apply insecticides yourself, though the products available to professionals are usually more effective than those available to consumers. When choosing a product, look for one that is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and specifically lists bedbugs on the label. (8) You’ll likely need to do a few rounds of treatment, because it can be very difficult to find and kill bedbug eggs.

To successfully get rid of bedbugs, you need to be extremely thorough. “Bedbugs are excellent at hiding and will be in places where most people wouldn’t check — behind peeling wallpaper, in the rails of drawers, in hollow curtain rods, and in electronics,” Lazarus says. If even just one bedbug is left behind, you’ll still be in trouble, Durham says.

Learn More About How to Get Rid of Bedbugs

The Insecticides Used to Kill Bedbugs Can Be Harmful to People (and Pets), Too, if Used Incorrectly

It’s important to approach bedbug treatment carefully, because insecticides that are used to kill bedbugs can also be harmful to you if you’re exposed to unsafe levels. Symptoms of unsafe pesticide exposure include vomiting, dizziness, headaches, and trouble breathing. (9)

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When they’re used safely and according to the label, insecticides shouldn’t pose a threat to you or any other family members or pets you live with, Lazarus says. Insecticides are sold as dusts, liquids, aerosols, and foggers. There are also organic and natural products on the market, though some research has found they’re not as effective at killing bedbugs as traditional insecticides. (10)

If you hire a professional to treat the bedbugs in your home, you’ll want to ask them a few safety-related questions, including:

• What insecticides do you plan to use? You can look up the products yourself (or consult your doctor or vet about them) to see if there are any precautions you need to take. (11)
• Do you have a list of references? Call the references to ask about their experience working with this company.
• Are you a certified, licensed pesticide applicator or a licensed technician?
• Do you use integrated pest management techniques? This effective approach attacks bedbugs from all angles and treats them with a combination of heat, steam, and insecticides. (12)

Watch out for insecticide products sold over the internet that come from outside the U.S. — they may contain ingredients that have been banned by the EPA, which could mean health (and potentially legal) issues for you. (13)

Learn More About How to Deal With Bedbugs Safely

To Prevent Getting Bedbugs, Be Smart About How They Spread

Bedbugs are excellent hitchhikers. They grab onto luggage and purses or find hiding spots within folded clothes to make it back to your home. Getting them is just bad luck. “There is no real reason one person would get bedbugs over someone else,” Svenheim says. “It’s just being in the wrong place at the wrong time where bedbugs exist. ”

And they can exist everywhere, from restaurant booths to seats at the movie theater to changing rooms at the mall. “It’s really about being educated about what they are, how you can get them, and doing things the right way to prevent you from bringing them back to your house,” says Eric Braun, a board-certified entomologist and technical services manager for the national pest control company Rentokil.

There are some precautions you can take to minimize the chances that you’ll end up taking home a bedbug on your next trip.

• When you check into a hotel room or settle into a home rental, inspect the space for pepper-like stains on the bedsheets and mattress seams, Lazarus says. That’s a sign of bedbug activity. If you think your room may have bedbugs, ask for a new room that’s not next to or directly above or below your original room, Lazarus suggests.
• Keep your luggage away from the bed and off the floor. Braun says not to use luggage racks or unpack your clothing into the hotel room drawers. He says it’s safest to keep your luggage stored in the bathtub.
• If you notice bedbug bites while on your trip, be sure to wash the clothing from your suitcase (whether you wore it or not) and dry on hot for at least 30 minutes for the best chances to kill the bugs before they infest your home — and use a portable steamer to apply heat to suitcases and any items that cannot go in the dryer, Lazarus says.

Frequent travelers aren’t the only ones at risk of picking up a hitchhiking bedbug. People who live in apartment buildings and dormitories also have an increased risk (because higher rates of turnover and closer living quarters increase the chances bedbugs will have the opportunity to spread). Because of this, many universities recommend students wrap their mattress and box spring with a protective cover or mattress encasement to keep bedbugs out. (14) Look for ones made of high-quality cloth, which won’t tear as easily as plastic.

People living in apartments should also consider adding a door sweep to their front door to minimize the chances that bedbugs will sneak in from the communal hallway. (15) Keeping cracks around electrical work or plumbing filled also gives the bedbugs fewer places to break in. (16)

Finally, be careful not to bring bedbugs into your home through secondhand furniture by inspecting the items before you purchase them.

Learn More About How to Prevent Bedbugs

Having Bedbugs Can Come With an Emotional Toll. Here’s What to Do About It

Bedbug infestations are treatable, and the bugs themselves don’t pose a threat to your health, but having to deal with bedbugs can be very stressful.

“Having an actual bedbug infestation is pretty psychologically traumatizing in general,” says Katherine Maloy, MD, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone Health in New York City. “It’s extremely overwhelming — even just the logistics of getting your home cleaned — and it takes a very long time because the bugs have a long dormancy period in which they can go without food.” In the right conditions, bedbugs can live for more than a year without feeding.

Wondering if they’re truly gone or not can cause a lot of anxiety. People dealing with bedbugs may also experience: (17,18)

• Difficulty sleeping
• Nightmares
• Depression
• Social isolation
• Flashbacks

RELATED: When Doctors Diagnose ‘Bedbug Psychosis’

Additionally, dealing with bedbugs can make existing mental health issues worse. Researchers say the toll the experience takes on one’s mental health is similar to post-traumatic stress disorder. (19)

Dr. Maloy says if you’re dealing with bedbugs, talk to someone you trust, and visit a professional if it’s really taking a toll on your life. “It’s the same as with anything else that’s causing distress,” Maloy says. “If it’s interfering with your functioning, if it’s interfering with your life, it’s interfering with your relationships and your work, if you’re not able to function because you’re not sleeping,” she says — it’s time to seek help.

Learn More About Getting Over the Mental Distress Bedbugs Can Bring

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Everything You Need to Know About Mite and Flea Bites

What Bit Me? Spot These 12 Bug Bites

What Are Mites, and Do They Bother Humans?

Mites are arthropods, not insects, and are close cousins with spiders and ticks. (1) Most types of mites feed on other insects or on dead plant and animal material. (Dust mites, for example, feed mostly on dead skin cells.)

But there are a few types that bite or affect people: (2,3)

• Chiggers
• Scabies
• Rat mites
• Bird mites
• Northern fowl mites

Despite what you may have heard or read online, home mite infestations are fairly rare and tend to be much less of an issue than people assume, says Mike Merchant, PhD, a former professor of entomology at Texas A&M University in Dallas. “A lot of the mite stuff on the internet makes it sound like [a mite infestation is] the end of the world, but it’s not,” he says.

Can Mites Be Harmful to Your Health?

Mite bites can cause skin lumps and rashes and, occasionally, more serious reactions, Dr. Merchant says.

Among outdoor mites, the only type that frequently bites people is the chigger. The word “chigger” applies to a particular species of mite that bites during its larval stage of development, and their bite produces an intensely itchy red welt, Merchant explains. “There are not too many other mite problems outdoors,” he adds.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Chigger Bites

When it comes to indoor mites that bite or cause health issues, Merchant says most spring from animal nests. “Some mites will infest the nests of birds and rats and mice, and when they become abundant, they’ll leave that site and sometimes wander into the house and bite people,” he explains. In most cases, the bites of these mites cause an itchy skin rash, which may feature small lumps or pimples.

“The skin might be very itchy or red for a few days, but then that will taper off,” Merchant says of mite bites. Ice and anti-itch creams like hydrocortisone can help control the swelling and itching. But those symptoms should resolve within a week, he says. (Nearly all species of biting house mites cannot live on human beings, and so they don’t “infest people,” he adds.)

There is one outlier: scabies. These mites infest a person’s skin in order to lay eggs and feed, and are usually only passed by direct person-to-person contact. (4) Like other mites, scabies tend to cause an itchy, pimply red rash. But unlike other mites, those rashes will continue to appear unless the person gets medical treatment, usually a prescription-only skin cream or lotion designed to kill scabies.

Dust mites can cause allergies in some people, but these tend to be of the mild, seasonal allergy variety — stuff like a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes. (5) Over-the-counter and prescription allergy meds can help quell dust mite allergies.

RELATED: Everything You Need to Know About Allergies

How to Get Rid of Mites in Your Household

You don’t need a crazy whole-house treatment or fumigation. You just need to remove the animals and animal nests that are bringing mites into your home, Merchant says. “Everybody always wants a spray to solve these types of mite problems, but the real solution is getting rid of any animals nesting in your home, and animal-proofing your home,” he says. Basically, call in a home pest pro.

The exception here, again, is the scabies mite; in addition to getting medical treatment, you can take steps to eliminate the mites from your household. Scabies mites don’t survive very long when they’re not on human skin. Vacuum your home the day you start treatment and decontaminate your bedding, clothing, and towels by washing these items in hot water and drying on high heat. You can also dry-clean or seal these articles in a plastic bag for at least 72 hours.

When it comes to dust mites, on the other hand, it’s almost impossible to get rid of them all. But frequent home cleaning and dusting, installing HEPA air filters, and buying bedding that can be washed in hot water and that resists dust accumulation can limit allergic reactions.

What Are Fleas, and What Do Flea Bites Look Like?

Fleas are blood-sucking insects that live on mammals — often dogs, cats, or other furry pets. (6) Fleas are brown and wingless. And while they’re small, usually around an eighth of an inch, they’re big enough to see or even feel with your hand, Merchant says.

While they prefer animals to humans, fleas can migrate off pets and onto their owner’s skin. “Usually flea bites are on the lower legs because the fleas get into the carpet and then jump up as we’re walking past,” Merchant explains.

What does a flea bite look like? Like many other types of insect bites, flea bites produce small red bumps that may be itchy and that tend to appear in groups of three or more. Again, ice and hydrocortisone can help relieve symptoms, which tend to be short-lived — a week or less.

More Serious Health Complications Can Arise if You Have Mites or Fleas

Like all biting or stinging insects, mites and fleas can occasionally cause serious allergic reactions, including problems breathing or a swollen limb or throat. Those symptoms warrant a trip to the emergency room.

Also, anything that causes itchy skin or open sores can allow in bacteria, which could lead to a secondary infection. (7) If you notice swelling, pain, or a mite or flea bite that seems to be getting worse after a day or two, or if you have a fever or other flu-like symptoms, talk to a doctor. Those could all be signs of a bacterial infection.

Finally, both fleas and mites can transmit some potentially serious diseases to humans — namely types of typhus and spotted fever — though these transmissions are very rare. Symptoms include headaches, fever, rashes, and delirium. (8)

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6 dangerous insects: blister beetle, scolopendra and others

Rights and safety while traveling

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This summer, many of us will travel to Russia – and for sure it will be an unforgettable experience.

Arina Prokofieva

biologist

At the same time, it would be nice to do without seeking emergency medical help.

We have collected dangerous insects that can greatly spoil the experience of the trip.

How to quickly recognize an insect

To find out the name of a bug, download the Google app (iOS/Android), click on the colored square in the search bar, and point your camera at the insect.

As a result, the system will recognize the insect and display its name. See how it works:

Bug beetle

Latin name. Mylabris quadripunctata.

Special signs. Bright red, yellow and green are more common. The body of an adult beetle is large – about the size of the phalanx of the index finger.

Blisters stay on plants singly or in groups of 2-4 individuals. Source: pavelazarov / Instagram

When you can meet. May – August.

Where you can meet. Distributed in the Southern and North Caucasian districts, in the Krasnodar Territory and Southwestern Siberia. Blisters inhabit mainly steppe regions and savannahs; they can also be found in deserts and semi-deserts.

What is dangerous. A beetle may fall on a person from a tree or collide with him in flight. The beetle has in its blood – its scientific name “hemolymph” – the poison cantharidin is present. When stressed, the blister secretes a small amount of cantharidin.

The poison can damage the skin: a burn in the form of a watery bubble forms at the point of contact. Most often, the hands, neck, and face are affected. If there are wounds or scratches on the skin, the burns will be worse.

If the beetle, and along with it, cantharidin, gets into food, intoxication may develop. During the first 10 minutes after the use of cantharidin, burning of the lips, oral cavity and pharynx begins. Sores may form in the mouth, and the tongue may swell. Then nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are added to this, accompanied by pain in the abdomen.

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How to help the victim. A person who has accidentally eaten a bug needs to wash his stomach: drink several glasses of water and induce vomiting. If cantharidin gets on the skin, disinfect it with chlorhexidine and try not to damage the blisters so as not to bring infection and dirt.

How not to get hurt. Do not pick up blister beetles, and even more so do not crush with your hands and feet: there is a risk of accidentally coming into contact with poison.

Scolopendra

Latin name. Scolopendra cingulata.

Special signs. Scolopendra is a large brown centipede and about 12 centimeters long: about the size of a smartphone or the average human palm.

As a rule, centipedes sleep or hide under rocks or in cracks during the day, and come out at night to hunt insects and small lizards

When available. April – August.

Where you can meet. On the eastern coast of the Crimean peninsula.

What is the danger. Scolopendra is especially dangerous in early spring, when its glands fill with poison. Usually centipedes avoid meeting with a person and bite only if they are picked up. On a scale of pain, a sting is equivalent to 10-15 bee stings.

Bites are not only painful, but also provoke general malaise, and the mucus secreted by insects causes burning, itching and irritation of the skin. The bite site swells, the temperature rises sharply to 38-39degrees, chills and body aches occur. The severity of symptoms depends on the size of the centipede and the amount of poison injected, but one bite will not lead to death.

Symptoms last up to two days, then the temperature begins to subside, and the swelling at the bite site decreases. Scolopendra bites are most difficult for children and adults with allergies.

How to help the victim. Wash the bite site with soap and water and treat the skin with an alcohol antiseptic or hydrogen peroxide to avoid getting infections under the skin: there could be earth particles on the legs of centipede.

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You can smear the wound healing ointment on the bite site. If the skin is swollen, apply a cold compress to it. Over-the-counter antipyretics such as ibuprofen or paracetamol will help relieve pain and bring down the temperature. If an allergic reaction develops – the bitten area swells and hurts – you need to take an antihistamine.

If discomfort persists for more than two days, see a doctor.

How not to get hurt. If you notice a scolopendra on your clothes or body, do not make sudden movements, do not shake it off and do not try to slap it: this will make it angry. It is necessary to contain the panic and let the scolopendra leave on its own, or gently push it off with a stick raised from the ground.

Check things and shoes carefully before putting them on. If you spend the night in nature, inspect the backpack, tent and sleeping bag each time before use.

Asian giant hornet

Latin name. Vespa mandarinia.

Special signs. Can be about half the length of an adult’s index finger. The sting of the giant hornet reaches 6 millimeters. Unlike bees, which leave a sting at the site of the bite, the hornet uses it repeatedly.

Usually hornets use this weapon when attacking bee nests to feed on larvae

When available. May – August.

Where can you meet. In the Primorsky Territory, in the south of the Khabarovsk Territory and in the Jewish Autonomous Region.

What is dangerous. The venom of the giant hornet contains an extremely toxic substance, mandorotoxin. It is most dangerous for those who are allergic to bee or wasp venom: one bite is enough for a fatal outcome.

Severe pain immediately occurs at the site of the lesion. At the point of impact of the sting, a dense white blister of a small size appears. A red spot and swelling quickly spread around. The most dangerous places for a bite are the tongue or the neck area. With swelling of the larynx, the access of oxygen to the respiratory tract is blocked – the victim may suffocate.

The hornet’s body also contains a pheromone that attracts other individuals and makes them act aggressively towards humans. About twenty hornet stings can kill an adult even without an allergy to poison.

How to help the victim. Rinse the bite with cold, clean water and apply an ice pack or cold water to the skin. This will reduce the pain and slow the spread of the poison. If a hornet has stung your wrist or finger, you need to remove all rings and bracelets from your hand: it can swell up a lot.

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The victim should be given water to drink – this will reduce the concentration of poison in the blood.

If the victim gets worse or is known to be allergic, take them to the doctor or call an ambulance immediately. When breathing stops, you need to start doing artificial respiration and continue until a doctor is nearby.

How not to get hurt. If possible, stay away from flowering plants, as wasps and hornets can be found next to them. Also, hornets often fly for sweets, so do not leave drinks and food open.

The only way to escape from the attack of a swarm of hornets is to run for cover: it can be a tent or a car. As a last resort, dive into any body of water. You need to dive into the water with your head, holding your breath, and periodically emerge to inhale. When emerging, create more splashes to scare away the hornets. After a few minutes, the insects will lose interest in you and fly away.

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Water scorpion

Latin name. Nepidae.

Special signs. Actually, it’s a bug. The water scorpion is named so for its external resemblance to a scorpion: its forelimbs are like claws, and behind it is a long tail process. The body of a water scorpion is flat, similar in shape and color to a withered leaf. At the rear end is a breathing tube, which can be mistaken for a sting. In reality, the danger lies ahead.

Water scorpions are 2 centimeters long. They live in stagnant water, lakes or rivers with a very slow flow of water and a large amount of algae and reeds. They lead a rather passive lifestyle, sometimes going down to the depths to hunt

When you can meet. In the bathing season.

Where you can meet. Throughout Russia.

What is dangerous. Grabs the skin very painfully. Having noticed its prey, the scorpion with a swift maneuver exposes the front pair of legs, similar to the jaws, and grabs the prey – a person can play this role. The legs of the insect bend at the joint like a folding knife and can cut the skin to blood.

The scorpion lives along the shore, as coastal plants have insect larvae, tadpoles, and fish fry on which it feeds. But sometimes it can sink to a depth greater than human height. If a scorpion injures a person’s arm or leg while swimming, the limb may cramp – and it will be much more difficult to get to the shore.

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What to do if bitten. If you are bitten at depth, scream to get people’s attention. If a cramp appears after a bite, then get out of the water as soon as possible. If it is far from the shore, act like this:

1. Change the position of the body: if you swam on your chest, roll over onto your back, and vice versa. This will reduce the load on the muscles affected by cramps.
2. If the cramp is in the hand, quickly and forcefully clench your hand into a fist, pressing it to yourself, then throw your hand away from you and open your fist. Repeat this action several times until the cramp is gone.
3. If your lower leg is cramped, try to bend over and grab your foot with your hands, and then pull your foot by the toes towards you, straightening your leg.
4. If your hip is cramped, wrap your arm around your ankle just below the ankle. Then, with force, pull the leg with your hand back towards your back.
5. It is more convenient to perform all these manipulations while lying on the water on your back.
6. Once out of the water, apply chlorhexidine to the bite and apply ice to relieve pain and swelling.

How not to get hurt. Try not to enter stagnant water that is overgrown with reeds. Don’t swim alone, or at least don’t swim far from shore.

Red wood ant

Latin name. Formica rufa.

Special signs. 7 to 14 millimeters long, red-brown.

Red ants live in anthills of various sizes. They can be found almost anywhere in nature

When can be found. From the second half of May to the middle of September.

Where to meet. In the north of the Krasnoyarsk Territory and in the forests of the temperate zone of Northern Eurasia.

What is dangerous. Ants carry pathogenic bacteria that can cause various diseases in humans, such as typhoid fever or cholera. During a bite, an ant releases a small dose of acid, which causes a red spot to form in this place, sometimes a small blister.

Pain not greater than that of a mosquito bite. Itching and irritation on the skin usually disappear after 3-5 days.

How to help the victim. Clean the bite with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. To relieve redness and reduce pain, ice wrapped in a cloth can be applied to the skin. In pharmacies, you can buy an antihistamine ointment, such as Fenistil or its analogues. In case of a severe allergic reaction, when swelling and extensive redness the size of a palm develops around the bite, contact a dermatologist or allergist immediately.

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How not to get hurt. Do not leave food or sugary drinks outdoors or in a tent. Ants smell water and sweets and come to dine in large groups.

Check for ants on your feet when you walk in the forest or in places where anthills are found, including underground ones – they look like small holes in the sandy soil. Shake insects off of you to prevent them from biting.

Mosquitoes

Latin name. Culicidae.

Special signs. Mosquitoes can look completely different, and large size does not always mean danger.

Here is a centipede mosquito, it does not bite humans and animals at all, but the townsfolk are more afraid of it than of its blood-sucking relatives. Mosquitoes are especially numerous in the evening near open water bodies, because they need water for reproduction. During the day in sunny weather, they almost do not appear

When you can meet. At the end of May – beginning of September.

Where you can meet. Throughout Russia.

What is dangerous. Female mosquitoes need protein to reproduce, so they suck the blood of animals and humans. Piercing the skin, the mosquito inserts its proboscis into a blood vessel and secretes saliva. The proteins in its composition cause an immune reaction in a person, which is manifested by itching and swelling. Combing the skin after a bite, you can bring an infection into the wound and provoke the development of an abscess.

Mosquitoes also carry parasitic and infectious diseases: malaria, West Nile fever, eastern equine encephalitis, tularemia. They are not often found on the territory of Russia, but such cases do happen.

How to help the victim . To reduce itching, apply a damp cloth or ice wrapped in a cloth to the skin. If discomfort persists, apply calamine zinc oxide lotion to skin.

Medical attention is needed if swelling develops after a bite, blisters appear. Give the victim any over-the-counter antihistamine for allergies, and lubricate the bite site with an anti-inflammatory cream with a glucocorticosteroid. Any one sold in a pharmacy without a prescription will do.

How not to get hurt. In nature, especially in the forest, in the shade, cover open areas of the body, use deterrents: sprays, creams, combustible coils and fumigators.

Dangerous insects and their bites – blog of the medical center ON Clinic

Summer brings not only warm days and the opportunity to relax in nature, but also stinging, biting insects. Due to our negligence, a hike in the mountains, a picnic or a vacation can be ruined, and the health consequences will have to be settled for more than one week.

Ticks

Outdoor activities can lead to unpleasant exposure to ticks. It doesn’t matter where exactly we are located: in the yard, in the city park or in the forest. Every year, these insects conquer more and more green areas, and cases of infection with borreliosis or encephalitis are becoming more frequent.

The tick season lasts as long as the warm weather. Fortunately, in our country, most of the diseases transmitted by ticks do not find distribution due to the small number of dangerous tick-like species compared to other countries. For example, in the United States, Canada, and Brazil, more than 600 people are infected with Rocky Mountain spotted fever each year. This is a disease caused by a tick that carries the bacteria rickettsia. However, Lyme disease, caused by ixodid ticks, can also be contracted in Ukraine.

Tick bites

Ticks carry many infectious diseases, including typhoid. As soon as a tick gets on our skin, it is able to move around the body, looking for more comfortable places to live. To prevent a tick bite in places of increased danger (in the forest, among the wild), closed clothing without folds in light shades and insect protection helps.

Tick bites may not be detected immediately. Sometimes there is no inflammation, allergic or toxic reaction on the skin. Infectionists explain this by the fact that by piercing the skin, the tick injects an anesthetic that acts as an anesthetic. For this reason, the bitten does not feel pain.

Lyme disease

Ixodes ticks that transmit Lyme disease are considered the most dangerous. Its symptoms are reduced to the appearance of red circles on the skin, headache, skin rash, fatigue, fever. In the absence of treatment, the work of the nervous and cardiovascular systems is disrupted, the joints suffer. In most cases, the disease is successfully treated with antibiotics. The sooner you see a doctor, the less the threat to health.

Specialists of the network of ON Clinic medical centers advise developing a useful habit: after outdoor recreation, go to the bathroom and carefully examine all the attractive places for ticks (scalp, face, area behind the ears, armpits, area under the knees, chest , upper and lower limbs).

After each walk, take a shower and wash your clothes thoroughly. If an insect is found, contact a dermatologist or infectious disease specialist. Removing the insect yourself can increase the risk of infection. For example, due to:

• insufficient disinfection;
• incomplete tick removal;
• low immunity;
• the presence of other infectious diseases or inflammatory processes in the body.

Black Widow Spider

These spiders are also called karakurts – they are the heroes of many films. The most dangerous are the females of these predatory arthropods. Poisonous spiders can bite and pose a threat to human health and life. By nature, they are not aggressive and bite only in self-defense (for example, after accidentally pressing). The widow spider is able to move quickly and attack at the most unexpected moment. Karakurts live mostly in the south of Ukraine (Azov, Black Sea, Kherson region).

Black Widow bites

Spider venom can cause pain shock, increased blood pressure, nausea, vomiting and muscle spasms, as well as a feeling of fear. Redness forms at the site of the bite. Doctors recommend immediately calling an ambulance and reporting a suspicion of a karakurt bite in order to prevent the possible development of hypertension, bronchorrhea, or seizures. Poisonous substances quickly spread throughout the body and can cause irreparable harm to health.

Lice

Lice’s favorite place is hair. You can pick them up using a comb, headdress, scarf of an infected person. If your head is itchy, don’t ignore it. Have any family member check your neck, neck, and behind your ears. If you find parasites, try not to scratch your scalp. Wounds contribute to the rapid penetration of the infection into the blood.

How to get rid of lice

To get rid of nits (lice eggs that adults lay on clothes or hair), use lice products according to the instructions and prescribed by a dermatologist (lotions, shampoos, creams) . During the treatment of pediculosis, you need to keep clothes, underwear, bedding, hygiene items clean. For those who are not infected, it is important to be careful in dealing with infected people and take preventive measures:

• observe the rules of personal hygiene;
• use only your belongings and do not lend them to the infected person for temporary use;
• Vacuum blankets, pillows, carpets and change bedding daily.

Fleas

Fleas can annoy not only pets, but also people. They bite painfully, resulting in itchy blisters. Sometimes a person may experience an allergic reaction: swelling and even purulent inflammation on the skin.

Flea bites

Getting rid of parasitic organisms should begin with the purchase of protective equipment for animals. Disinfectants will help reduce discomfort after a bite in a person. Dermatologists advise treating bite sites with disinfectant solutions or ointments purchased at a pharmacy or specialized medical facilities.

To prevent re-infection, take care of the sterility of the pet’s habitat, watch his social circle on walks. First of all, prohibit contact with stray animals.

Bee, wasp, hornet

In case of bee stings, it is important to quickly remove the stinger. But a wasp or a hornet can inflict two or more bites at once – they do not lose their sting at the first bite, so their attack is more dangerous. As a rule, redness and swelling appear at the site of the bite. And only after a while side effects may occur: nausea, headache, weakness.

Treatment of a sting of a bee, wasp, hornet

If there is no allergic reaction, it is enough to pull out the sting (if any), and treat the bite site with an antiseptic and apply cold. If you experience an atypical reaction or if you are bitten in the face, larynx, tongue, genitals, seek medical help immediately. If the incident is ignored, anaphylactic reactions of varying severity can occur, which can even lead to death.

Scabies

Scabies mite Sarcoptes scabei (Scabies itch) can be picked up by direct contact with an infected person or by sharing common hygiene items. The incubation period of infection ranges from several hours to 1-2 weeks. The bite of the parasite causes severe itching on the skin, often worse at night.

Treatment of scabies

A dermatologist will help get rid of scabies after examining the patient and making a diagnosis. It is advisable to wash the patient’s clothes in hot water, observe the sterility of bedding. At the discretion of the doctor, the patient is prescribed antihistamines to reduce itching. The method of treatment is aimed at the destruction of the pathogen through the use of acaricidal drugs. These are drugs aimed at combating ticks (acaricides are ticks: other Greek ἄκαρι – tick and Latin caedo – I kill).

Bed bugs

Bed bugs can be found in the bed linen of hotels. They can even settle in your luggage or on your pet’s things. They become most active at night.

On average, the life expectancy of these bloodsuckers is about a year. They are easy to confuse with other small insects and often their intrusion into your life can be identified by small red blood stains on bedding in the morning. After quenching their thirst, they become clumsy, move slowly, and therefore, during sleep, they are easy to crush with the weight of their body.

Bed bug bites

Red bites on arms or shoulders are bed bug marks. In no case should you comb them (you can bring an infection). As directed by a dermatologist, an effective antihistamine can be used.

Contaminated bedding, decor items, toys or other furniture should be thoroughly cleaned to prevent re-infestation. This can be done in dry cleaning, using heat treatment or special tools. Be sure to ensure the cleanliness of things in the house, refuse to use other people’s bedding and towels.

Flies

Flies are everywhere and carry dangerous diseases such as pneumonia and intestinal infections. During epidemics, they are able to carry pathogens over long distances, increasing the focus of infection.

Fly bites are painful and cause redness. The bitten place must be immediately treated with an antiseptic solution, and also not to eat the food and drinks on which the representatives of the Diptera family have landed. Flies, like midges, like to settle near garbage cans and the corpses of dead animals.

Mosquitoes

You should always save yourself from mosquitoes, because they are carriers of malaria and other diseases. Suitable for this are mosquito repellents, protective clothing, window screens on gazebos, and scented sticks. When using sprays or creams on the skin, be sure to test for an allergic reaction. If available, it is better to choose a remedy with your doctor.

Observations show that some people who are in the same place of mosquitoes are bitten with different force and frequency. This can be explained by the fact that each insect perceives the smell of a person in a different way: for him it is more or less attractive. This is tantamount to susceptibility to bites: some have a strong reaction, others have a weaker one. And this depends on the toxicity of the composition of the saliva of the mosquito that struck.

Cockroaches

You can meet these six-legged comrades not only outside the house, but also within it. They can go without food for a long time, they can damage the integrity of products, leather products, books. Cockroaches are omnivorous and can feed on garbage or feces. Many of them move through the sewer, garbage chute or attic. Therefore, their lifestyle can negatively affect any person: threaten gastroenteritis, dysentery or diarrhea.

Certain species of cockroaches, such as yellow cockroaches, may bite (in the neck, crooks of limbs). As a result, a wound appears with a small crust, which can become inflamed. On the paws and abdomen, cockroaches carry many pathogenic microorganisms. When combing the blister, they are able to get inside and parasitize in the human body. Cockroach bites must be treated with an antiseptic.

Make an appointment with a dermatologist at the ON Clinic network of medical centers in your city if you have been bitten by an insect. An experienced doctor will help to effectively and quickly cope with the consequences of any bite.

Enjoy the summer, but be careful!

Dermatology in the Children’s Department in Nikolaev

Children’s department in Nikolaev

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